Ian Fisher's career-best haul of five for 30 has given Gloucestershire command of their championship match with promotion rivals Durham at Bristol.

The former Yorkshire spinner claimed the last five wickets to fall as Durham were dismissed for 218 in reply to Gloucestershire's 374.

Australian Martyn Love made a stylish 98 for Durham but the next top score for the visitors came from Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who blazed 34 from 32 deliveries to earn Durham a batting point that had looked unlikely.

Acting Gloucestershire captain Craig Spearman opted not to enforce the follow-on, and the home side closed a day which had lost 27 overs to bad light and rain, on 53 for two in their second innings.

Durham took their overnight score of two without loss through to 38 for two at lunch. Both wickets were taken by Jon Lewis, who had his namesake in the Durham side lbw and removed Gordon Muchall to a catch at the wicket by Jack Russell.

Lewis struck again early in the afternoon session when Paul Collingwood was adjudged leg before by umpire Trevor Jesty as he pushed forward.

Mark Hardinges had Gary Pratt caught at first slip by Spearman in the next over, and it soon became 84 for five when Nicky Peng fell lbw to a slower delivery from Ian Harvey.

Durham were given renewed hope by Love and Philip Mustard, who shared a sixth-wicket stand of 75 in 17 overs. Mustard got off the mark with a six to long-on off Ball but was dropped in the deep by Hardinges when on 21.

He had taken his score onto 31 when he checked a drive against Fisher and gave a low return catch. Fisher's next over brought the prized wicket of Love, who had struck 20 fours in his 143-ball innings. Fisher then struck twice in his sixth over as Graeme Bridge and Liam Plunkett edged catches to Spearman and Ball.

Akhtar dominated a last-wicket stand of 45 with Nicky Phillips. But he, too, was beaten in the flight by Fisher and comfortably stumped by Russell.

Akhtar struck twice with the ball when Gloucestershire batted again. Philip Weston was caught by Bridge at gully and Spearman chopped a delivery on to his stumps in the penultimate over of the day.